The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1887-09-15
IN A TRAP.
An Adventure with Three Indians
and Two Bears

near the QeduWdU6TS Oh UT0eH hlfOI,
before / got an Indian alarm. l had
come up from Fort Bridger with pack
mule and plenty of traps and pro-
visions, and by travelling mostly at
night and taking every pains to hide
my trail had escaped the attention of
the redskins. Having gained the up
per end of the valley, / found a safe
spot for the mule and plenty of game
for my traps. For the first two weeks
i did not discharge my rifle once.
was trapping for fur, and what fresh
meat needed 1 killed with the bow
and arrow. In twenty-five days l had
a mule load of furs. 1 had but to set
my traps and wait little. 1t must
have been years since any one had
hunted or trapped in that valley, for
the hares would scarcely run away,
and on three or four occasions black
tailed deer stopped at half pistol shot
and gazed at me as if they had never
seen human being before.
The discovery which so vexed and
alarmed me was made early in the
morning. 1 had my camp close in to
the base of the mountains on the east
side of the valley, while the mule was
hidden on the west side, about opposite.
/ had inclosed him in about half an
acre of ground. on which there was a
spring. by building up light brush
fence and by hopping him, and it had
been my custom to visit him at least
every other day. My furs were stored
in cave forty rods above my camp as
fast as accumulated, and 1 had
neglected no precaution which expert
ence could suggest. Each morning it
was my custom TO climb to ledge of
rocks overhanging my camp and take
a careful survey of the valley through
field glass which l had carried for
years. On this occasion had scarcely
turned the glass down the valley when
/ discovered three Indians, each
mounted. and pack horse following
They were not in war dress, but three
bucks who had come into the valley on
the same errand as myself.
Twas boiling mad over the advent of
my visitors. All my luck was gone in
moment, and l might consider it a
great stroke of fortune if 1 got out
alive, and left them my mule and furs.
The fellows were ten miles away when
j first sighted them, and 1 had a little
time to reflect on my course. They
would certainly come up the valley as
high as my camp, and it was certain
that would have to move. The idea
of giving up all had gained and
sneaking off empty-handed was too re-
pugnant to be acted on, and after Ihad
spent ten minutes watching the trio, 1
descended the ledge with firm deter
mipation not to leave the valley. l had
not yet lighted fire to prepare my
breakfast. l gathered up all the brands,
covered the ashes with leaves and dirt,
and worked for quarter of an hour to
obliterate all signs of the camp. My
furs in the cave must take their chances.
1t was well hidden spot, and the In
dams might or might not discover it.
My destination was a gulch or canyon,
a mile further up the valley, and on
my side of it. had twice passed the
entrance. but had never explored the
gulck. 1t doubtless contained some
hiding place or point of advantage.
and / would be forced to seek shelter
until 1 knew what the Indians purposed
doing.
The redskins were coming up the
valley at slow pace, and had entered
the gulch half an hour before they were
opposite my camp Standing at the
mouth of the gulch could see them
very plainly. From their movements
Judged they had never been in the val
ley before, or at least not as high
up. While they were not looking
for signs of white men, and had
no suspicious of my presence. their
hawk-eyes soon made a discovery.
They ran on to a footprint, an over
turned stone, or some other proof of
the presence of a human being, and a
moment later they sweryed across the
valley and entered the very thicket
where nay mule was concealed. / was
in for it now. The discovery of the
mule would put them on 20 me, and the
three hunters after game would be-
come three warriors after my scalp. 1
instantly abandoned all hope of saving
any of my property and started off up
the gulch to make my escape through
the range
1t was a rough, dark place 1 had got
into In no place was the rift over ten
feet wide. while it narrowed here and
there to four or five. Its sides were
almost perpendicular, and 1 had not
gone over three handred feet before
came to the end 1t was what is known
as "a false eanyon.~ extending only a
little way into the mountain instead of
cutting through it In the twilight
which prevailed down there 1 ran
plump up against mass of rock in the
path, and when had burned match
or two fully realized the situation. 1
was in trap. 1t was not likely that
the Indians yet knew of my location.
They knew that one or more white
men were in the valley. but could not
tell just vhere. 1t was morning. you
remember, and before night came they
would know all about it. They would
,,-oa,. aol 1<1Iorn and raoonnoif,.a and